Concentrator



(No Modem A H. L. ELTON.

5 CQNCENTRATOR.

No. 591,335. Patented Oct. 5,1897. v f Fl G l 2,6 /J /7 l K I Il l Ill] 1w I /g 7 1i H. .d /7' 4! i d l Wl l oo@ O00 y l |I mo a Z0 2/ z/ /y H'... l

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9 i J3 i /0- UNITEDl STATES' PATENT turion,

IIOVARD L, ELTON', OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANI.

CONCENTRATOR. y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent'No. 591,335, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed August 29, 1896. Serial No. 604,253. (No model.)

struction in an ore-concentrator; and it consists in features of construction hereinafter` described and claimed. v,

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a centralvertical section, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Referring to said drawings, 1 indicates a casing, preferably cylindrical and having a coneshaped lower end. This' casing is closed, and its top piece is provided with a central opening 2, a Water-supply pipe 3, and an oresupply pipe Ll, preferably leading from a hopper 5 and having a valve 6. The Water-supply pipe 3 is also provided with a valve` 7. The lower end of the casing 1 terminates in a pipe 3, Which is provided .with two valves, one valve, 9, being situated adjacent to the lower end of the casing and the other, 10, at the lower end portion of this pipe`8.

Passing through the opening 2 in the center of the casing is a rotatable cylinder 1l, closed at its lower end and provided thereat with a valve 12 and resting at its lower end in a supporting-bearing 13. The upper end portion of this cylinder projects through an opening 2 and through a suitable bearing 14 on the top piece of the casing, while its upper end opens into a pan 15, from which a trough 16 extends. v Between the opening 17 and the bearing 14 the cylinder is provided with any efficient means forrotating the same, which may be a pulley 18, as shown in Fig. l.

Within the casing and secu red to the cylinder '11 is an agitator 19, which rotates with said cylinder and can be of any approved construction, but which we have illustrated as consisting of a spirally-inclined plane on the principle of an Archimedean screw. When this spiral agitator 19 is employed, it is desirable to form an upturned flange 20 at its periphery. The sides of the cylinder, between the plates of the agitator; are perforated, as at 202, so that the water and suspended ore can pass from the casing int-o this cylinder.

I also provide receptacles for holding mercury to extract the ore that is held in suspension by the water, and these receptacles can be situated either in the pan, trough, or within the cylinder l. We have shown in the drawings a series of cups or channels 21 on the inner face of the cylinder, a bowl 22 suspended from the upper end of the cylinder, and a series of transverse grooves 23 in the trough, which act as riffles.

The parts being constructed and arranged as described, the operation is as follows: The valves 6 and 9 are closed, and the valve 7 is opened to allow the water to fill the casing 1, after which it is closed. The cylinder and agitator are then rotated, and then the valve 6 is opened to admit the crushed ore, which is supplied until it reaches the point of precipitation. The valve 7 is then opened slightly, and the pressure of the water and the admission of the ore will expel the water through the openings 2On and the cylinder 11. The water rises slowly in the cylinder until it Vruns over the top, carrying with it the lighter particles of the ore, the larger pieces and all particles that are not held in suspension by the water falling to the bottom of .the casing, from which they can be removed by means of valves 9 and 10. Should pieces of ore, however, too large tobe held in suspension by the water find their way through the opening 20 into the cylinders, they will be precipitated to the bottom of the cylinder, in which the Wat-er Vis not agitated, but is nearly quiet and rising slowly. The particles thus dropping to the bottom of the cylinder 11 can be removed by means of the valve 12. The ore held in suspension by the water in passing over the receptaclecontaining the mercury will be taken up by this chemical in an obvious manner, thus extracting from the water such particles as may escape the mechanical action.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

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l. In an ore-concentrator, a casing having a water-inlet, an ore-inlet, an outlet at the lower end of said casing, valves controlling said inlets and outlet, a rotatable hollow cylinder situated within said casing having a closed lower end provided with a valve, the upper end portion of said cylinder extending through the top of the casing and leading to an outlet, openings in the sides of said cylinder, and an agitator carried by said cylinder, substantially as described.

2. In an ore-concentrator, a casing having a water-inlet, an ore-inlet, an outlet at the lower end of said casing, valves controlling said inlets and outlet, a rotatable cylinder situated within said casing and communicate ing therewith and provided with an agitator, receptacles situated within said cylinder for 1 the reception of chemicals, and the upper f end portion of said cylinder communicating with an inclined pan, substantially as described.

3. In an ore-concentrator, a casing having a water-inlet, an ore-inlet, an outlet at the lower end of said casing, valves controlling rsaid inlets and outlet, a rotatable cylinder situated within said casing and provided with an agitator .comprising a spirally-arranged plate, openings in the sides of said cylinder between the convolutions of the spiral, and a suitable outlet at the upper end of said cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribngwitnesses.

HOVARD L. ELTON.

Vitnesses:

EMMA L. RUFF, WM. D. IYEENNAGE. 

